SENIOR HEALTH OFFICER (REPRODUCTIVE, CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH).

Applications are invited from suitably qualified citizens of East African Community Partner States (Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) for the Senior Health Officer (Reproductive, Child and Adolescent Health) project staff position. This is a non-established position supported by donor funds whose contract terms and conditions are limited to the availability of funds.


SENIOR HEALTH OFFICER (REPRODUCTIVE, CHILD AND

ADOLESCENT HEALTH).

REF: EAC/HR/HEALTH/2011-2012/012

Professional Staff Category: (P2 Equivalent)

Reports to: EAC Principal Health Officer (PHO)

Organ/Institution: EAC Secretariat

Duration of Contract: Initially two (2) Years

Station: EAC Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania

Main Purpose of the Job:

To coordinate harmonization of EAC Partner States’ national policies, legislation, strategies and guidelines on sexual, reproductive health, child and adolescent health and rights and also facilitate the development and implementation of regional strategic plans, projects, programmes, initiatives and joint interventions within the Partner States.

Duties and responsibilities.

A]. Promote universal access to sexual, reproductive, child and adolescent health and rights services in East Africa

1) Coordinate and facilitate the development and implementation of EAC regional strategic plans on sexual, reproductive, child and adolescent health and rights in collaboration with national technical counterparts in the Partner States,

2) Provide technical and policy advice to Partner States to implement national and regional policies that promote universal access to sexual, reproductive, child and adolescent health and rights services in accordance with international best practices,

3) Initiate, promote and coordinate the development of policies, guidelines and programmes on sexual and reproductive, child and adolescent health and rights

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4) Coordinate and facilitate the implementation of on sexual and reproductive, child and adolescent health and rights policies, programmes and interventions within the Partner States;

5) Coordinate and facilitate the activities of the Regional Technical Working Group on Reproductive, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition.

6) Coordinate and facilitate the work of the EAC Regional Inter-Parliamentary Forum on Health, Population and Development that comprise the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) as well as the respective EAC Partner States’ National Parliaments,

7) Coordinate programmes and activities relating to child survival and development such as Newborn care, integrated management of childhood illnesses, early childhood development, Immunization etc;

8) Harmonize promotion of appropriate child health, knowledge and practices which enhance child survival and development;

9) Coordinate development of guidelines and programmes that enhance child health rights and child protection;

10) Coordinate development and implementation of a comprehensive school health programme including life skills, hygiene and sanitation, water safety, disease prevention, nutrition, ethics and moral values, sexual and reproductive health, etc;

11) Coordinate development and harmonization of a comprehensive Adolescent Health Programme that include Adolescent sexual and Reproductive Health, prevention and control of drug and substance abuse, life skills and values, nutrition and personal hygiene etc.

B] Establishing sub-regional benchmark information on sexual, reproductive, child and adolescent health and rights and reproductive health commodity Security in East Africa

1) Design a tool to collect information that will be used to establish a benchmark of key indicators for monitoring progress on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH)/Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS) and availability and use of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services in the East African Community (EAC) Countries

2) Create a database system (baseline information) on national statistics on key Population Data Sources (PDS), Reproductive Health (RH) indicators, and other key indicators inclusive of gender and social inclusion.



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3) Prepare regional level statistical reports on the status of Reproductive Health (RH), gender and population issues.

4) Provide technical advice to East African Community (EAC) Countries on data collection, data management and data analysis for basic monitoring and evaluation.

5) Define substantive research agenda and the needs for new data in support of evidence based policy development and practice on sexual, reproductive, child and adolescent health and rights in the East African Community Partner States;

C]. Strategic programming support for EAC regional sexual, Reproductive, child and adolescent health and rights

1) Analyze economic, political, security, social and humanitarian trends and perspectives in the sub region, and provide strategic advice on their implications for the work of EAC in the region, and for the formulation and implementation of strategies for SRH;

2) Provide advice and strategic support to the EAC to determine programming needs in the region

3) Coordinate and facilitate the development of project funding proposals in support of the implementation of identified priority EAC regional sexual and reproductive, child and adolescent health and rights projects, programmes, initiatives and joint interventions within the Partner States.


4) Develop an EAC regional Monitoring and Evaluation Plan specifying a set of outputs/outcomes that the EAC will monitor to assess progress in the Partner States and region to progress towards universal access to reproductive health.

D] Other duties

Undertake any other related task that may be assigned by the EAC Secretariat from time to time.

Minimum Academic Qualifications and Professional Experience:

(i) A Medical degree from a recognized university, preferably with a post graduate degree in public health, social sciences or related field, gender, demography or population studies with an emphasis on programme development and management, health management or training on health communication from a recognized University

(ii) At least 7-10 years of relevant work experience in the field of population issues, with extensive experience in programming, policy analysis and development.

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(iii)Familiarity with the work of regional or international intergovernmental processes is highly desirable

Special Competencies:

(i) Strong programming, report writing and proposal development skills.

(ii) Fluency in English is required; working knowledge of Kiswahili language is an advantage.

(iii)Computer literacy especially with respect to PowerPoint, Microsoft word and excel and Microsoft project.

(iv) Team Player, inter-personal, leadership analytical, communication



TERMS AND CONDITION OF SERVICE

The position has an initial two-year contract that may be renewed subject to satisfactory performance and availability of donor funds. This position will be subjected to the EAC quota system.


HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit their applications quoting the reference number of the position applied for by registered mail, courier service, e-mail and dispatch directly together with the full curriculum vitae, copies of both academic and professional certificates and testimonials, names and addresses of three referees, day time telephone /cell phone numbers to:

The Secretary General

East African Community

P.O. Box 1096,

Arusha, Tanzania

Fax: +255-27-2504255/4481

Email: eac@eachq.org

Female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Closing Date: All applications together with copies of relevant attachments should be received no later than Wednesday, 29th February 2012.